As incongruous as it might seem to have a dog wandering the halls, Carmen Fariña, the New York City schools chancellor described it as a very successful program, and one the city could expand if other schools were interested in having a “nonperson” in the building.

“If a child is having a temper tantrum, an adult might just be in the way, but a dog soothes,” she said. There are also students, like some with autism, who have trouble connecting with other people, but might have an easier time connecting with an animal, she added.